Method of securing structural support elements in soil

ABSTRACT

A method for to securing structural support elements (slabs, piles, posts and the like) intended to erect power transmission lines. This method consists of forming an inclined opening in the element to be secured; in installing the said element in the soil so that the inclined opening faces the soil; in and introducing a wedge via the inclined opening to be subsequently pressed into the soil. Due to such a method of securing structural support elements, the reliability of securing the said elements in the soil with a non-deformed structure improves considerably and the bearing capacity of the elements increases sharply, the elements being able to take up loads in any direction.

United States Patent Gabliya et al.

METHOD OF SECURING STRUCTURAL SUPPORT ELEMENTS IN SOIL Inventors: JuryAlexandrovich Gabliya, ulitsa Filed:

Sovetskaya, 8, Moskovskaya oblast, Schelkovo; Lev Emmanuilovich Levin,Nizhnaya Krasnoselskaya ulitsa, 45, kv. 80, Moscow; Evgeny MikhailovichBukharin, Kosinskaya ulitsa, l8, korpus 3, kv. [66, Moscow; FedorIgnatievich Sloevsky, B. Cheremushkinskaya ulitsa 32, korpus 2, kv, 4,Moscow; Abram Borisovich Rubinshtein, Lyalin pereulok, 24/26, kv. 46,Moscow; Vladimir Ambartsumovich Avanesian, Gospitalny val, 3, korpus 6,kv. 170, Moscow; Indulis Krishevich Birzeniek, ulitsa Ezermalas, 59, kv.1, Riga, all of USSR,

May 17, 1973 Appl. No: 361,154

US. Cl 52/742; 52/157 Int. Cl. E0403 21/14; EO2D 5/74 Field of Search52/155, 165, 742, 157,

52/158; 248/43, 156, 85, 87; 211/29; 256/DIG. 5

[ 1 Sept. 9, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 405,4456/1889 Thomson 52/158 1,808,633 6/1931 Carver 52/158 2,826,281 3/1958Johnson 52/158 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 327,757 4/1931) UnitedKingdom 52/155 Primary Examiner-James L. Ridgill, Jr. Atmmey, Agent, orFirm-Waters, Schwartz & Nissen 1 1 ABSTRACT A method for to securingstructural support elements (slabs, piles, posts and the like) intendedto erect power transmission lines. This method consists of forming aninclined opening in the element to be secured; in installing the saidelement in the soil so that the inclined opening faces the soil; in andintroducing a wedge via the inclined opening to be subsequently pressedinto the soil.

Due to such a method of securing structural support elements, thereliability of securing the said elements in the soil with anon-deformed structure improves considerably and the bearing capacity ofthe elements increases sharply, the elements being able to take up loadsin any direction.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED 91975 SHEET 1 BF 2 METHOD OFSECURING STRUCTURAL SUPPORT ELEMENTS IN SOIL FIELD OF THE INVENTION Theinvention relates to structures for high-voltage power transmissionlines and, more particularly, to methods of securing structural supportelements intended for such lines. Among these elements are includedconcrete slabs, reinforced concrete, metal or wooden piles, supportposts and the like.

BACKGROUND As is known, the structural support elements are subjected toexternal loads such as change of wind direction, formation of ice on thewires of associated power transmission lines, as well as forces of soilbulging, and the like.

Widely known in the prior art are methods of securing structural supportelements by means of driving piles. This method involves operations offabricating piles, delivering them to the place of installation, drivingthe piles into the soil by means of a special mechanismv A disadvantageof such methods consists of their limited application in thick soils.While driving the piles, and as they reach a certain depth, theirfurther progress becomes impossible, since the force of soil resistanceexceeds the strength of the pile proper thereby incurring damage to thelatter.

A further disadvantage of such methods is the low bearing capacity ofthe piles as regards the dragging loads in weak soils due to the smallperimeter of the pile and low friction between the surface of the pileand the weak soil.

To eliminate this disadvantage, structural support elements (supportposts) have been installed on a foundation whose depth depends on thegeological cut of the soil. Said foundation was in situ fabricated ofconcrete. For this purpose a falsework was constructed and thereinforcement housing and liquid concrete were installed therein. Thefoundation so formed could take up loads by its own weight.

An essential disadvantage of such a method consists of the highproduction cost of the foundation due to utilizing more materials,inconvenience of delivering them to the place of of installation and soforth.

Still a further disadvantage of such methods involves the fact that muchtime has to be spent to provide the required strength of the concrete.

Also known in the prior art are methods of securing structural supportelements (support posts) by means of braces fastened to the slabs. Thementioned method involves the following operations: digging pits to beused for laying slabs and mushroom-like foundations for posts at a depthof 2.5-3.5 m; filling up the pits with soil to be subsequentlyconsolidated; and fastening the said braces to the upper portion of thevertical support post.

A disadvantage of such methods is involved in securing the support slabsand mushroom-like foundations in the soil with a damaged structure whosebearing capacity is much lower than that of the soil of naturalformation. As a result of the change in the direction of wind loads, thebraces drag the slabs out of the soil with a damaged structure and sag,and the post somewhat deflects from the vertical position to one oranother side and can be overturned.

Another disadvantage of such methods involves the large amount ofearthwork associated with digging the pits, filling them up with soiland consolidating the latter. All these operations deform the structureof the soil and reduce considerably the volume weight and the cohesionbetween the soil and the pit. Therefore, the efficiency of applying suchmethods is small.

Also known are methods of securing elements (support posts) on metalpiles equipped with blades welded to the stem of the said said pile. Thementioned pile is screwed into the soil and then the support element issecured to the pile above the level of its underground portion. Such amethod of securing provides sufficient strength and normal operation ofthe pile in the soil with a non-deformed structure.

However, the production of such piles as well as the application ofmechanisms for screwing them into the soil are costly. Also, in theprocess of screwing in the pile, the strength of the latter is impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toeliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount ofearthwork involved.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the consumption ofadditional construction materials and time required to install powertransmission lines.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a simplermethod of securing effectively the structural support elements in thesoil with nondeformed structure.

This and other objects are accomplished in the method of securingstructural support elements in the soil wherein, according to theinvention, an inclined opening is formed in and through the elementbeing installed so that the opening faces the soil and a wedge beingintroduced via the inclined opening presses it into the soil.

It is preferred to have additional inclined openings formed in andthrough the support element so that all the openings are in intersectingrelation.

It is also preferred while securing structural support elementsconstructed in the form of a slab, to form the inclined openings at thecorners of the said slab.

When securing structural support elements constructed in the form of apost, it is advantageous to form the inclined openings at one end, andlower this end of the post into the soil, and to rigidly secure a cup tothe post above the level of the soil, the cup having guides slantinglocated so that their extensions in the direction of the soil intersect,with the guides serving to direct the wedges while they are introducedinto the appropriate inclined openings of the post and while they aresubsequently lowered into the soil, Upon completing the fastening of thesupport post by means of wedges, the said cup is removed.

Owing to the proposed method of securing the structural suppportelements (slabs. piles, posts and the like) in the soil, the amount ofearthwork drops sharply. Besides, the reliability of securing theseelements in the soil with a non-deformed structure improves considerablyand the bearing capacity of the structural elements enables the latterto take up loads in any direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of the proposedmethod of securing structuralsupport elements is given below withreference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the subject of theinvention. wherein:;

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the method for securing in thesoil a structural support element constructed in the form of a slab withinclined openings that extend therethrough in intersecting relation;

FIG 2 is a top view of another embodiment for securing a slab in thesoil;

FIG. 3 is a general perspective view of securing a structural supportelement constructed in the form of a post with a cup being fastened tothe upper portion of the post, the cup having guides which serve tointroduce the wedges into the appropriate inclined openmgs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The method of securing structural support elementsconstructed of the form ofa slab consists in the following:

Formed through a slab 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are openings 2 inclined withrespect to the upper and lower faces of the slab I. There can be one orseveral openings depending on the bearing capacity of the soil and onthe external forces acting on the support elements. The diameter of theopenings and the inclination angle of the openings also depend on thesame conditions. The said openings 2 can be formed at the corners of theslab l.

The slab l is secured by means of wedges 3 inserted in the openings 2.Then by means of a special mechanism (not shown) the said wedges 3 arepressed into the soil without deforming its natural structure. Thewedges can be fabricated from steel, reinforced concrete or othermaterial of required strength.

The method of securing structural support elements having the form of apost 4 (FIG. 3) involves the following operations: forming the inclinedopenings 5 on and through one end of the post 4 with respect to itslongitudinal axis and lowering the end of the post 4 with the inclinedopenings 5 into a pre-drilled well. Then, the cup 6 is rigidly fastenedto the post 4 above the level of the soil. The said cup 6 has guides 7which are inclined so that they would intersect if extended in thedirection of the soil. The inclination angle of the guides 7 correspondsto the inclination angle of the openings 5. The inclination angle of theguides 7 is controlled by means of a goniometer (not shown) depending onthe inclination angle of the openings 5. The wedges 8 are introduced viathe guides 7 into the appropriate inclined openings 5 of the post 4.After that, the said wedges are pressed into the soil by means of aspecial mechanism.

Depending on the hardness of the soil. wells of smaller diameter thanthat of the wedge are pre-drilled., the wells corresponding to theinclined openings. Then in the above-described manner the wedges arepressed into the soil.

The loads are carried by the support post together with the wedgesthrough which they are transmitted to the soil of a non-deformedstructure, thereby insuring stability of the proposed designs at muchhigher values of loads compared to those designs which are employed atthe present time.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of securing a structural support element in the soil, saidmethod comprising forming the structural support element as a post,forming a plurality of inclined holes in one end of the post whose axesinter sect, sinking said one end of said post in the soil such that saidopenings are below ground level, rigidly and detachably seeming to saidpost above the level of the ground a cup having guides inclined tointersect said holes upon extension towards the soil introducing wedgesinto said guides. driving said wedges into the so so that the wedgesenter said holes in the post and subsequently sink deeper into the soil.and removing said cup after the post has been secured by means of thewedges.

1. A method of securing a structural support element in the soil, saidmethod comprising forming the structural support element as a post,forming a plurality of inclined holes in one end of the post whose axesintersect, sinking said one end of said post in the soil such that saidopenings are below ground level, rigidly and detachably securing to saidpost above the level of the ground a cup having guides inclined tointersect said holes upon extension towards the soil, introducing wedgesinto said guides, driving said wedges into the soil so that the wedgesenter said holes in the post and subsequently sink deeper into the soil,and removing said cup after the pOst has been secured by means of thewedges.